Crows (Corvidae)

Ethiopian Raven (Corvus edithae) - HBW 14, p. 637

French: Corbeau d'Edith German: Somalirabe Spanish: Cuervo Etíope
Other common names: Dwarf/Somali Raven, Lesser Brown-necked Raven, Somali Crow

Taxonomy: Corvus edithae E. L. Phillips, 1895, Hainwaina Plain, Somalia.
Forms a superspecies with C. albus and C. ruficollis. Often treated as conspecific with latter, but close to former in size, structure and vocally. Hybridizes frequently with C. albus in SE Highlands of Ethiopia (and sporadic mixed pairs reported from most of range); recent observations suggest that interbreeding is not immediate when the two meet, and that some time is required for breeding-cycle synchrony to develop. Suggestion that present species is a population of all-dark C. albus considered unlikely, as some calls do differ and it replaces latter in the dese.. View all taxonomy...

Distribution: Eritrea, Djibouti, E & S Ethiopia, most of Somalia, extreme SE Sudan and N Kenya.